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jonnyboy231
Snake Mite
United Kingdom
15 Posts |
 Posted - 08/08/2013 : 09:35:05
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Last night, I noticed the ceramic bulb had stopped working, so this morning at 2:30AM I changed the bulb in order to get it to work. After waking up this morning and speaking with my mother she suggested I change the fuse, so I changed the fuse, the stat came on, the light came on then popped and started smoking, so I concluded the fuse might have gone in the stat as that no longer turned on. So I change the bulb, the fuse in the stat, turned it on, pop, the same thing happened.
So while I get this mess sorted out, does anybody have any ideas why this is happening, but while I get this sorted what's the best way to keep the snake warm while I get it fixed? Should I put a hot water bottle wrapped in tea towels inside his viv, as a sort of temporary heat source?
Any suggestions welcomed
Thanks |
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Lotabob
Royal Python Moderator
United Kingdom
5008 Posts |
Posted - 08/08/2013 : 11:19:45
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Sounds very strange. A ceramic bulb should easily cope with the juice a normal household plug provides.
It sounds to me like the wires are shorting in the light bulb holder as you are getting smoking there. Turn everything off and check the wiring to the holder.
It's warm enough at the moment to allow you some time to get the setup sorted without worrying too much about the snake getting too cold, just don't feed until its sorted and there shouldn't be an issue. |
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Edited by - Lotabob on 08/08/2013 11:25:45 |
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phlegmatical
Yearling
United Kingdom
403 Posts |
Posted - 08/08/2013 : 12:43:31
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| I agree sounds like a loose connection. What amp fuse did u put back in the plug |
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jonnyboy231
Snake Mite
United Kingdom
15 Posts |
Posted - 08/08/2013 : 18:54:33
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Lotabob you were completely correct, after a considerable amount of worrying and bad sleep this morning haha got over to my not-so-local reptile shop and he told us to bring everything with us, the whole viv and the snake and everything, he checked it and it was the wires in the bulb socket. He replaced the socket and happy days everything is fixed. Here's a picture, surprisingly the bulbs were both okay, one was slightely burnt out at the top where it screws in but it works just about:
Sorry for the stupid 'WORRYWORRYWORRY-resolved' post. I hate reading other posts like this but I was just really worried at the time. |
Edited by - jonnyboy231 on 08/08/2013 19:12:13 |
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Foremand
Sub Adult
United Kingdom
968 Posts |
Posted - 08/08/2013 : 19:20:17
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My cable did this on my 4 foot viv. Not shorting out but could smell burning. Could be one of a couple of easy things. What type of set up do you have because I found that mine wasn't ventilated properly when i first got it, therefore the heat build up. Aswell as the humidity in there. Like electric and water.
Very common with electric in general. I changed my mums shower pull cord switch few weeks ago as the humidity of bath, shower etc build up in the box and burnt the box and cables to a highly dangerous level.
Dodgy electricians these days! |
1.0.0 Royal python- Kaa
1.0.0 German shepherd- Riley
0.3.0 Cats- Does not matter they won't come to you
1.0.0 Red Footed Tortoise- Nemo
1.0.0 Boa- Bison
0.0.1 Brocky- Bearded dragon |
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coxcats
Sub Adult
United Kingdom
584 Posts |
Posted - 09/08/2013 : 18:30:52
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| This happened to me a while back with a blue bulb. It died but when I touched it it pinged back into life. Then died again. Wires in the holder had started to burn a bit. Dodgy connection. Shortened the wire a bit and it all worked fine. Then changed to a ceramic bulb! |
Royals - Sas, Boris & Ria
Boas - 1 called Titch until we can think of a name for her!
Cats - Felix, Becky, Max & Willow |
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jonnyboy231
Snake Mite
United Kingdom
15 Posts |
Posted - 10/08/2013 : 02:11:23
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Foremand, should be ventilated okay, it's a Vivexotic Viv, with two of the normal 8x1 vents on a guess, you must know the ones I'm on about, so the ventilation shouldn't be a problem.
Is there any way this could have been caused by a faulty plug socket? Like is it worth getting it checked out?
And Coxcats, that does indeed sound strange. What sort of bulb were you using before the ceramic? |
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Lotabob
Royal Python Moderator
United Kingdom
5008 Posts |
Posted - 10/08/2013 : 19:46:40
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That doesn't look like heat resistant cable. That's probably why it's cooked, ceramics get hot. Either that or a accidental slip of the wire stripper just caused the wires to touch once that happens its only a matter of seconds before it sets fire to itself.
Good thing is fuses are there to stop it getting dangerous and clearly did their job. Check the new wire though, if its not heat resistant it could happen again. |
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coxcats
Sub Adult
United Kingdom
584 Posts |
Posted - 11/08/2013 : 21:22:04
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| I was using a blue 100w heat bulb. The connection was definately loose. It worked fine after I tweaked the wire ends. |
Royals - Sas, Boris & Ria
Boas - 1 called Titch until we can think of a name for her!
Cats - Felix, Becky, Max & Willow |
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Help with heating please
